UN Council members reject NKorea meeting request

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — United Nations Security Council members are rejecting North Korea's request for a meeting to protest joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises.

North Korea sent a letter to the council on July 21 requesting the meeting.

British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told reporters that China raised the letter at a meeting Wednesday and asked other members for their opinions. Lyall Grant said "there was no support for a council discussion on that issue." He said Britain, which holds the Security Council presidency, will not schedule a meeting.

South Korean Ambassador Oh Joon said several ambassadors "expressed the opinion that these issues do not deserve the attention of the Security Council."

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi China told reporters that Beijing "wishes to see a de-escalation of the situation" but didn't comment publicly on the merits of a meeting.

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